schutz



l. SCHUZ. fuaL mm. APPLiCATiON FILED FEB. 19 19H.

Patented fct 2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

- V 1. M. SCHUTZ.

FUEL FEEDER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.19| I9 1 ,3 1 9, 1 1 9'. menu-d om. 21, um.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2` jmlm MHT citer described and i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH MARTIN SCHUTZ, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOB TO SCHUTZ HAWLEY COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A. CORPORATION 0F ILLINOIS.

FUEL-FEEDER,

Speoinceton of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 21, i919.

i Application led February 19, 1917. Serial No. 149,531.

To all whom it may concern .f

Be it -lmpwn that I, .T osErrr Murrm Scno'rz, uy citizen of the United btates, und residing at Chicago, Cook county, Illinois, have invented certain new sind useful Improvericnts in and for Fuel-Feeders, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in machines for feeding more or less pulverized substances and granular substances and for mixing such substances with :streams of air. gas, and the like. The invention has special reference to means for feeding mixtures of air nndfuel to furneoes; 'The feeder herein shown first appeared `somewhat diugrn-mmeticully in my pendingI application, No. 147,759,1series of 1915.

The general object of the invention is to provide-Ineansfor the reliable and uniform feedingof dry substances from a hopper or the like.- A further object is to provide for the mixing of such substances with other substances in measured or pledetern-xined proportions. Another object is to make it possible to mechanically feed dry substunces into u space, wherein the pressure is either more or 1lessv than in the feed hopper or the compartment containing the feeding device. And the particular object of the invention is to provide an easily regulable and complete 11n-it mechanism for varinbly forming und fecfling a stream of air and crushed or pulveriied coal to an intregenerative furnace such as I have described und claimed in my said upplicntiou, Ser. No. 147,759.

In its best und most complete forni my invention consists in u mixing duet. to be connected with the furnace or like to be supplied, in lcombination withv e variable blower for supplyngair or like to suid'dnct, e. feeder proper for the dry substance, and a. feed. valve or conveyer interposed between said duct and Suid feeder, und acting to discharge the Substance into said duct while preventing the escupe of nir or .like from seid duct into the space containing the feeder. The invention also consists in novel constructions of the several elements named;

and lin combina-ttm; thereof.; Vell as hereinulerly pointed out in the a pended My iliirentionrwl ha on reference to the l which form part of this which: Figure 1 is n eadily understood panymg drawings peciiicntion and in feeder embodying my invention, especially adapted for use with un introgeneretive furnace of the construction shown in seid application, Ser. No. 147,759, the section' being on the line X--X of Fi 3; Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional detail of tie driving cou- )lr which connects the blower shaft with ille feed rollv and lthe rotar valve," the sec- Ition being on the line Y- of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is e vertical section on the line Z*Z of Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 is s. horizontal section on the line lV-VV of Figs. 1 and 3.

1The machine herein shown is a, unit which is complete in itself. l intend that one such unit shall be used for each furnace, or the like, requiringe mixture of the kind which it din adopted to make. But it is obvious that under some conditions one unit or feeder m'uy be used to simultaneously supply sevei'ul furnaces or other devices.

Most conveniently, the device is built upfm the 'plan shown in the drawings. with the flower. A, at the bottom; with the mixing duct, B. next above; with u vulve like unto or equivalent to the valve, C, above the duct; and, with the feed roll, D, and fuel.

trunk, E, at the top. The motor, F, whatever its kind, is preferably un element of the unit, though obviously the blower muy be operated in ways other than shown. lVhen used, the individual motor is `placed on a base extension, F", of. the freine or casin of the unit. I prefer that the motor shall )e et the level of the blower, A, rather than elevated to a point where it would make the unit top heavy. `The rotor of the blower, the vulve, C, and the feed roll, D, cre interco'nnected or coupled by ineens of e coupler, G, etthe side of the unit.4

The details of constructioniend operation vere es follows The mixing duct, B, is preferably rectangular in cross section, as shown in Fig. 3. Its receiving end, 1, is connected with the discharge of the blower, A. Its discharge end, 2, is connected with the extension, 3, which leads to the furnace or other device (not shown) to be supplied with the mixture. The valve opening, 4, in the top of the duct, B, 'is the opening through which the fuel or other material is delivered to said duct, and will be referred to in connection with the feeding valve, C, which occupies said opening, 4. Thecross sectionals'ize or ca. acit of the mixing duct rtical section of e is deteunined by t e vo ume of air or other 13. As shown in side walls.

gas to be forced or drawn through it in a iven time. In practice this volume and the velocity of` the air is always su cient to carry away the solid material `fed into the duct through the opening, When the feeder is used with my introgenerative turnace, the volume of air passed through the duet, B, is that particular volume which is required for the first stage combustion of the fuel. The blower, A, occupies 4the space beneath the duct or trunk, B, and comprises the scroll-like casing or housing, 5, and the rotor, 6. The air enters the scroll through openings, 7, in the ends of the main housing or casing, H, of' theunlt. The discharge outlet, 8, ot'v the blower; 1s preferably positioned at the bottom and by means of the properly curved swecu or elbow, 9, is connected with the duct, As shown, the elbow,- 9, is preferably dis oecd on the exterior of the unit. The ischarge, 8, and the elbow, 9, are preferably rectangular' m cross section, corresponding to the duct, B. The rotor, 6, preferably, is of the mulitplevanetype and it rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow, 10, in Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 3, the vanes are attached to the central dlsk, 11, and the latter by means of a hub, 12, is fixed on the blower shaft, Fig. 3, the blower shaft is directly connected to the shaft, 14, `of the motor or engine, F A lexible coupling, 15, is preferably interposed. The speed of the rotor is the same as the speed of the motor,` F, and therefore may be regulated through the medium thcrerrf, as by means ot the usual regulator, 16, belonging to the motor, F. ln-

shaft rotates at high speed I prefer to mountit in anti-friction and 19, the latter being a thrust mung. The bearings described are mounted in pillow blocks, -20, and 21, secured on the frame, H.

Those who are familiar with blowers of the kind shown will understand that the volume and velocity of theair delivered to the trunk, B, will vary7 in direct proportion to the speed of the rotor. The performance therefore is easy of regulation.

Above the mixing trunk, B, is a hopper, H', Jformed by the sides of the frame, H, together with the inclined walls, H. This hopper has cylindrical openings; 22,'in its ends and is provided with partial cylindrical 23.thc latter bring parte oi the walls. H", and terminating atthe opening. 4. AThe upper part of the hopper is oc cupiod by the feed roll, D. and tht` truuk. D', which supplies said roll. The lower part; `oil: the hopper is occupied by the valve, The chief member ot' t-lu` valve is u hub. :'24, lined on a shafhi. Tlul latter is rarrind in central bearingsyQli; which. pret'- rrably arc integral heads, 27, scrured in, and closing. thu cylinwith the cylindrical' drical. openings, Said openings, '22, are of such size as lo permit the valve to be passed eudWise therethrough. The hub, 24, instead ot' bcn g plainly cylindrical. is provided with parallel ribs, 2l. too short. to `reach the walls, 23. .Flexible packing strips, 24", are attached to the ribs, Q4', and sweep the walls, 23, as the valve is rotated. ln this manner tight joints are preserved between the valve and the walls. 23, while the valveV is in rotation. The purpose of this puck- `ing.; is to prevent air ing through the opening,` ward blast or a d wnwai'd draft witnin the hopper, H', woul tend to disturb the regullarity ot the operation of the feeder. I comlete the packing of the valve by equipping its ends with plates, 28, and by placing soft packing disks, 29, preferably of oily felt,

etween the plates, 28, and the heads, 27. A further advantage of the packing, 29, is that it vserves to exclude grit from the bearings, 26.

It should be observed that the rotary valve, (l, as here illustrated, is essentially a cylindrical device containing a plurality of pockets, C'. These successively receive the material from the yfeed roll and convey the same to 'the mixing duct, B. Thel pockets,

are more than large enough to contain the maximum quantity of material which they may receive from the feed roll, D, at maximum speeds of operation. It may here be explained that ordinarily the valve, C, operates at a speed of from 25 to 30 revolutions per minute. This is sulticient to carry a'way the material delivered lby the slowly rotated roll,-D, and is fast enou h tie B l. Either ,an upto prevent noticeable fluctuations inA mixture discharged from the duct, Under some conditions the pocket valve, C. may be used as the primary feeder, but

in most cases its chief function is that of a closure between the duct, B, and the hopel", H'.

The large feed roll, D, the feed trunk, D', and the adjustable feed controlling gate, D", in themselves constitute a combination which is new in itself and is oaymblel of se rate use. But as here shown, I preter t is cor*nh-inatioti auxiliary to the feeding or pocket valvii;E C. The roll is provided with side flanges 30, which emnace the sides of the trun D. The bottom, 31. of said trunk conforms to the eylindrical surface of the roll. The gate, D", as shown, is slightly elevated above the surface of the roll and vas the roll rotates. in the direction of the arrow, 32, it withdraws material Jfrom the trunk, D', the thickness of the layer' withdawnffbeing determined by the elevation of' the' gat/e, gate is held by guides, 33, and, most conveniently, is raised alud lowered by means of the racks andpiions, ,'34, 35. he pinfrom blowing opdrawnot D". said A ions are fixed on a shaft, 36, which may be turned by means of the hand wheel, 37. A pinion, 38, on the other end of the shaft, 36, coacts with a datent, 39, to hold the gate in any position to which it is adusted by means of the hand wheel, 37. bviously its position may be therebf changed at will; and thus the quantity o material fed by the roll, D, may be varied Without changing the rotative speed of said roll, D. On the other hand, every change of feed roll speed results in var ing the feed assuming that the ate DV remains fixed. Presently it will seen that this variation of feed by the roll (independent of the gate) is accom lished automatically with every change of rotor speed in the blower, A. It should be noted that I position the gate, D, directly above, and, parallel to, thel axis of the roll, D. In this position the gate coacts with the almost dat top of the roll and revente the gravity flow of the material rom the trunk, D. At the same time it offers a minimum resistance to the positive feeding action of the feed roll. The roll, D, is keyed on a shaft, 40, which has bearings, 41, in the frame, H, and is held against longitudinal movement by the collars, 42, 43.

Most conveniently the feed roll, D, comprises `a hollow cylinder, 44, and two end disks, .5. 45, the edges of which form the flanges, 30. The cylinder, 44, is centered by the internal lianges, 46, on the disks, 45. Tlf." hubs. 47, of the disks are keyed to the sin'. it, 4.0, as before explained; and the disks are held together by cross bolts, 48, oompleting a rigid structure.

As shown, I prefer that the feed roll, D, the valve, C, fhetduct, B, and the blower casing shall all be of the same width, but obviously this is not strictly "essential Greater capacity l. provided by increasing this Width. y"\\ 1" The top of the casing,'H, is preferably closed by a plate or` fiange on the base of the trunk, D', together with a door, 50, through which the'feeding surface of the roll may be reached. 4 This inclosing of the feeder makes the 'unit dustless, a very de sinable feature. Y

i The rotor of the blower, A, operates at; high spoed; the speed range, in practice, bring from 1000 to 3000 revolutions per minute. The pocket valve operates at about fifteen revolutions per minute, fo-r the low speed of the rotor; and at proportionately increased speeds for the higher speeds of the rotor. As explained, the feed roll operates in consonance with the blower and the valve, but at very much lower speed.

As e moet convenient, economical and dura e means of driving the valve, C, and the/io, l), in the manner stated, I empldya mechanism or coupler, of which the vertical shaft, 51, is the chief element. A housing, :32, is provided' on the bearing block, 21. `Other housings, 53 and 5.4, are provided on the endsof respective shafts,

and 40. These housings provide bearings for the Vertical shaft, 51. TheV lower will be clear from the drawings that theA high spoed of the shaft. 13, is reduced in the shaft, 51, through the agency of the worm, 55, and l,rear. 56. It `vill also be clear that the worm gears belonging,r to the valve and to the food roll are so proportioned as io the proper relation between the peripheral .speeds of those elements.

The `several housings and hearings depicted are filled with grease and the unit is capable of oifwratinp,p Continuously/for long periods without attention, other that required to regulate the feed.

I have not attempted to show the switrhes and starting box vbelonging` to the motor, they being of common construction.

Every variation of speed in the motor, F, causes corresponding variations in the rotor, the valve and the feed roll. It follows that the operation of the unit is conveniently controlled by means of the regulator, 16, belonging to the motor, and by moans of the gate adjustiingr device. 37. By increasing the speed of the motor lthe delivery of mixture may be increased. By adjusting the gate, D', the proportions of air and solid nuiteriul may be varied as desired.

T he feeder unit herein described is used in connection with means (not shown) adapted to keep the trunk, D', full of eoal'or other material at all times. To start the operation it is only necessary to start the motor and raise the gate, D. Thereupon air Will be forced through the mixing duct, B, and simultaneously material will be Withdrawn from the trunk, D', by the feed roll. Falling into the hopper, H", the material is received by the rotatingi,r pocket valve and is thereby discharged into the current of air moving through the duct, B. The elongation of the feed valve to substantially the full Width of the duct, B, insures the even distribution of the material therein. Unless the regulators, 16 and 37,' are ad- 'justed the unit continues t0 operate Without variation.

It will be obvious that instead of making the casing, 5, of the blower integral with than the unit frame, said easing may be separate and may he put into the frame through the open bottom thereof.

As depicted, I prefer to make the unit frame in three sections, which are parted on the planes of the shafts, 13 and 40.

Various structural modifications, all within the intent and scope of the invention, will suggest themselves to those who are skilled in the art.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The feeder herein described, vcomprising a. mixingduot having an opening in its top, in combination with a blower beneath said duct and having its outlet connected therewith, a rotary pocket valve closing said opening, but serving as a conveyor to discharge material into said duet, a hopper from which Seid pocket valve is fed` a feed roll positioned to feed material to said hopper` a feed trunk positioned to feed said roll, an adjustable gate for regulating the feed from said trunk, and means for driving said blower, said valve and said roll at dilfelent but proportionately fixed speeds;

2. The feeder herein described. comprising a mixing duet having an opening in its top, in combination with n blower for moving air or like through said duct, a rotary pocket valve closing said opening hut serving as a conveyer to discharge material into sind duet, a hopper from which said pocket valve is fed, e feed roll positioned to feed material to said hopper, a feed trunk positioned to feed said roll and an adjustable gate for regulating the feed from seid trunk.

3. A feeder comprising a receiving duct Aloving a receiving opening in its top, in

combination with a hopper rising from said openings rotary feeding valve positioned in Salif opeuingia feed trunk, a feed roll, forming the bottom of said trunk. and positioned in said hopper. and a feed regulating gaie coacting with ,said trunk und roll.

4. A feeder cou'iprising a receiving duct having a receiving opening in its top, in `combination with a. hopper rising from said opening, e. rotary feeding valve positioned in said opening, a feed trunk, a feed roll forming the bott-om of said trunk, land positioned to deliver material therefrom into said hopper, a fuel feed regulating gate (reacting with said trunk and roll, and means for driving said valve and said Iroll at a proportiomdly fixed speed.

The feeder herein described` comprising` a mixing duct having an opening in its top, in combination with a rotary blower for moving air or like through said duet,A

a rotary pockctvalve closing said opening, but serving as a conveyor to discharge material into said duct. :L fecfl roll positioned to ferd material to said valve, a feed trunk positioned to feed said roll, au adjustable gate for regulating the feed from said trunk, meansl for driving said blower at high speed, and a speed reducing positive drive coupler whereby rotation is in'iparted from said blower to said roll and valve.

(i. The feeder herein described, comprising a mixing duct having an opening in its top, in combination with a rotary blower for n'loving air or like through said duct. a rotary pocket. valve closing said opening but serving as a convcyer to discharge material into said duct, a feed roll positioned to feed material to said valve, a feed trunk positioncd to feed said roll, au adjustable gate for regulating lhc feed from said trunk, means for driving .-nid blower at high speed and a speodmedncng positive. drive coupler whereby rotation is imparted from said blower to said roll and valve.

'i'. The feeder herein described comprising a mixing duct having an opening in its top, in combination with means for moving air or the like through said duet. a rotary pocket valve closing said opening but serving as a convenu to diecharge nmterial into said duct, a hopper from which said pocket valve. is fed, a feed rolhpositioned to feed material to said hopper, a feed trunk positioned to feed said roll. and a feed regulating gale co-acting with said duet and roll.

In testimony whereof, l have hereunto set my hand this 17th day of Fln'uary, 1917.

JOSEPH MARTiN SCHUTZ. 

